"For thou have been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy" psalm 61:3

On October 12th, year 2017, humanity made first contact with another sentient race. At 01700 hours, standard time, Celestia and her sister Luna, diarchy of their races world, walked into the United Nations counsel in Geneva, and made the existence of her and her peoples known. This race reffered to themselves as ponies, but many humans referred to them as equines. After an initial dust up of shock, and the usual threats of certain despots, the two sisters had naturally found most of the delegates a pack of useless cunts, but managed an amicable truce with Australian, North American, and various European dignitaries. And within a few months, a treaty was signed between those countries and the diarchy.

In exchange for labor and technology, the equines would provide resources and pegasi to stabilize the somewhat tumultuous weather patterns of the humans world. To wit, the diarchs and dignitaries also agreed that in order to maintain peace, there should be a mixture of equine and humans to oversee the exchanges and eventual immigration of both races. And so, the Bureau of Interdimensional Mediation and Exchange was born, or simply called The Bureau. Within the stone walls surrounding the portals, humans and ponies work together, filing the papers, asking the questions, and removing the contraband of their respective species trying to smuggle between the realms. And when it goes fubar, as it inevitably does, there is only one answer.

The Corps

An agency within a agency, the corp is the first and last defense of both humans and equines. Called into duty in times of need, they answer only to the government’s of earth, or when acting in Equestria, directly to Luna and Celestia. Picked from the finest and most outstanding figures of either world’s military, they are tasked with the protection of both worlds, and as such are given extraterritorial privileges. Sometimes acting as peaceful delegates, other times as assassins, these males and females of both worlds have shown themselves above the rank and file, and act as they deem necessary. And in truth, because of their work, none get the recognition deserved.

They are a shield, and when needed, a sword. They are loved and admired, marred and despised, they preserve peace through strength. So it has been, and shall remain: though many are born, few are made. For sacred honor they shall wait, to be let loosed as the last option before war is waged. These equines and humans are united in the cause of peace.

They are the Corps, and these stories are only of one of their soldiers.

.....

A lone figure stood in the bathroom of the Bureaus main building, wiping the sweat from his brow. Adrenaline pumped through his veins, his body trembled, his entire form shaking in anticipation. Looking up, he nodded resolutely at his reflection in the bathrooms mirror. Today was the day. Shifting his sweater around to better hide the explosives vest hidden under it, he whistled as he walked out into the busy atrium of the main portal hub of Equestria. Smiling outwardly, giving a small smile and nod to the guards standing behind the bullet and magic proof windows, he inwardly shuddered. Heathens... he mused.

It wasn't bad enough those infidel Americans dared to bar the will of Allah, but then to actually support these.... things, to actually allow them passage to the world God himself had given them... no, it was too much. Another inward shudder, this time of ecstasy. When those filthy beasts had dared to walk on his peoples sands, they were shown the wrath of God, yes indeed. Nostalgia washed over him as he remembered the first day of his true feelings of dedication, the day he watched as his beloved father slit the throat of a blind folded equine, and then proceeded to cut rest of the way, severing the head fully. He smiled, remembering his mother clapping, and giving him a hug as they both reveled her husband’s victory.

Smile fading, his memories shifted to what truly solidified his views. A few days later, he and his mother watched in horror as the names of the fallen were read, his fathers name among them. Those damned American had killed him in a firefight. Wanting to spit, he relished in an assumed image, the Americans drunk and laughing as they shit and pissed on his father’s corpse, taking pictures of their victory. Though he had never seen this done, he knew they did it, because that was what was what filth like them did. But even they, and their worthless allies in the U.N, were better than.... these equines.

What truly repulsed this nameless fanatic, what truly drove him, was the diarchy. How dare they.... how dare they assume the title of Allah, and how dare the equines worship them as only God deserved. Face unmoving, guts threatening to upchuck his meal, he pushed his hands into his pockets, one clasping his vests detonator, taking a moment of pleasure in its weight as he lifted it out. Lifting his arm, he took further pleasure as the passing equines and civilian humans began to panic, his heartbeat muting out their cries. Glaring at the guards behind the barrier, he thought happily, 'to late.' Opening his mouth, he bellowed 'ALLAH AQB...' suddenly his words were cut off as a familiar sound thundered through the room, and his hand seemed to evaporate above his head and into the air in a fine red mist, the detonator along with it. For an instant he could only look up stunned, then lowering the newly made spurting stump, he clutched his wrist, and fell to his knees. The pain was agonizing, but paled compared to the pain of vengeance denied.

Tears of anguish streaming down his cheeks, he looked around wildly, screeching "Where, where are you....' then another sound like thunder, and the would have been terrorist flew back, and slid across the floor a moment from the bullets hit, the back of his head bursting open and it contents splattering across the tiles, the gore adding further traction the sudden slide of its former owners body. The cries of fear rose into a cacophony of terror as equines and humans fled to the safety of the outside, but some humans only stood, or knelt to take horrified equines into their embrace, stroking manes as once again the ugly side of humans reared its head, and they could only look glumly on an all too familiar scene.

.....

A light brown coated pegasi looked down at the scene from his vantage point, eyes wide with his own personal horror at what just happened, the contents of his stomach threatening to make a return. Glancing sideways at the stunned equine a moment, his human companion muttered into the microphone of the head set he wore.

“Check, check. At 0830, spotter Dust cleared shot for sniper Ramires. Over.”

A females voice answered back, “Roger that El-tee. Verify.”

Looking back through his scope, he muttered, “Targets hand was first disabled, then was taken down with final shot to the head, center of forehead. Waiting for final stat check.'”

As he spoke, three equines in full golden armor, and three humans in full black combat gear walked briskly to the newly made corpse, the humans MP5'S drawn. As they made their way closer unicorns horns glowed, surrounding the body in the blue aura of barriers. Kneeling down, the lead human gave a nod, and the barrier was lifted. Pulling a hand slowly from the weapon, he pressed two fingers to the neck of the target, the made a slashing movement across his own neck.

Letting out a breath, Mesa muttered, 'Verify command, target is confirmed. Orders?"

A pause, then a hiss over the radio, "Verification cleared. Come back for debriefing.”

Mesa nodded, and pulled away from the scope, muttering "Check."

Still in a crouch, he turned to walk out of the cramped space he was in, but paused when he saw the look on the equines face. The pony sat somewhat slumped, breathing hard, his eyes downcast and glazed over somewhat. Concerned, Ramires lay his hand against the equine shoulders, and Dust flinched slightly, and looked up.

"Sargeant...' the human paused a moment, then damning protocol, continued, 'Dust... Dust, you ok?'

Looking back, he set his jaw, nodding, 'Yes Lieutenant, I'm...' he suddenly shook his head, looking down. "No, I... this is the first time...' he clenched his eyes, and Mesa nodded, understanding, 'the first time you've really seen someone get shot.' the pegasus bit his lip, and tears began to flow. Mesa just knelt next to him, and wrapped his arms around his neck, drawing the equine close.

"It's ok, let it out soldier."

And for a few minutes they just sat like that, Dust sorting through his feelings. Then Mesa's radio clicked, a voice asking, 'Ramires, verify.'

"Verify command, just taking it slow."

"Roger, command out.' and then a hiss, and silence. Loosening his hug, Ramires gave the equine a pat. "We got to get back Sergeant."

Dust nodded, and Mesa rose into his crouched form, and stretched when he made it out of the nest. Looking at the snipers previous spot, Dust asked, ' Lieutenant?"

Ramires looked back over his shoulder. "Yes Sargeant?'

"What did you feel when you killed him?'

For a moment, both soldiers were silent, the only sound was of Dust crawling out onto the ledge. Then walking to get down onto the walkway below, Mesa answered simply, 'Recoil.' then climbed down to the walkway, the pegasus following suit.

.....

A few days later, Shining Armor and Mesa stood in front of Celestia and Luna. Hands folded behind his back, the human retained his stoic face as Shining relayed the events.

"After Sergeant Dust brought the Lieutenant’s attention to the target, Lieutenant Ramires confirmed his movements as suspicious, and seeing the targets hand clenched as he took it out, Sergeant Dust gave the go for Ramires to take the shot.'

As he spoke, Luna quill went swiftly over the parchment she was looking over, the equines every utterance recorded. Celestia cleared her throat, and lifting her glass with magic a moment to take a sip, looked at the human.

"Lieutenant, did you feel justified in...' she cleared her throat again. 'In your actions on the day in question?”

"I did Ma'am, and still do."

Looking over her notes a moment, she continued, 'Tell me what you know of the target.'

"The target, ma'm, was a member of an Islamic fundamentalist splinter group. From what the Bureau has been able to establish, this group is dedicated to not only the removal of equines from the Middle East, but their removal  from my world entirely. This is achieved by not only the killing of civilians and military there, but on this world as well.'

After a moment of writing, Luna lay down her quill, and scowled. "Madness."

Looking at her the other half of the diarchy, Celestia's eyes narrowed, and she said warningly, "Sister....'

"No Celestia, its true what some humans have said.' She glared at Ramires. 'There will always be a button, and always be those mad enough to push it.'

Turning back to the human, Celestia began to apologize, then stopped when she saw the human smiling. Looking at Luna evenly, he said 'Ma,m, with all due respect, as I have proven, the target cannot push a button if you disable his hand.'

Too this, the mare only scowled. Smiling at the human, Celestia closed the folder that held Rumirez's files, and said softly 'For what its worth Lieutenant, you saved many lives today. You are dismissed.'

After the two soldiers, Celestia looked over at her sister. Seeing her musing look, she asked, 'What is wrong Luna? Scared?"

The lady of the nights head swiveled to glare at her sister, and she snapped, 'I fear no man, Celestia!' she started to shake, bowing her head, 'but Ramires, that thing.... it scares me.'

Sighing, Celestia shook her head. "Luna... I know your only concerned for our little ponies, but Ramires is a man, not a monster. I wish you'd give him a chance. And besides...' she rose, and Luna rose with her, 'In so far as his desire to protect, he is only a monster in the way we are.'

.....

Shining Armor shook his vehemently, and stamping his right forehoof, scowled at the human in front of his desk. "No, damn it. I hear where your coming from Clarence, but this is cut and dry."

Shaking his head, the normally stoic marine scowled at the use of his much hated first name, and scowl now in place, he began to pace the floor. Watching him a moment, the blue maned stallion nodded sagely.

"I get it. This isn't about the new location, or the new assignment is it?"

Mesa scowl deepened as he walked to the window overlooking the castle grounds. Below, he watched a few fillies and colts playing, and couldn’t help but smile. But still, in his heart... "Captain, I'm... I'm not much for civilization or interaction with others anymore. This whole damn thing is just a fucking babysitting."

Shining sighed, and rose up from behind his desk "Mesa, look...' The unicorn began to walk over to the soldier, 'Personally, I'd much rather have those sharp blue eyes roaming Canterlot...' as the human turned around, a glimmer of hope in aforementioned blue eyes, Shining armor held up a hoof 'But... we both know you need this soldier." Narrowing his eyes, he added sharply, "And it's an order directly from Luna and Celestia."

Shoulder slumping a second at the words, Ramires set his jaw, and clicking his boots together, saluted "Sir."

.....

3 days later. 01100 hours, Everfree Forest

Yellow eyes danced in the foliage of the woods, wearily regarding the scene before them. In the clearing, leathery bat wings still twitching, scorpion tail limp lay perhaps one of the deadliest creatures in all the woods, the manticore, and under him, what was thought an easy meal, Mesa. Sweating from the row, the human struggled and squirmed out from under the slumped form of his foe, saying between clenched teeth "Get... the fuck... off....' with one last almighty pull and a grunt, the human pulled his form fully from the dead beast, then belly crawling across the twigs, leaves, and dirt for a moment, flipped over onto his back, still breathing hard from the impromptu work out. Closing his eyes, he steadied his breath, and with it, his heart rate began to return to its usual rhythm. Now relatively calm, he regarded the sky a moment, then rolled over onto his stomach again, and got back up. Turning to the dead beast, he wrapped his fingers around the knifes handle, and with one swift jerk, pulled the blade from the creatures skull with a sickening noise, and the wiped the blade across his pants, staining the camo from its usual mismatched of greens to a sodden crimson, which darkened as it dried onto the cloth. After regarding the blade a moment in the sunlight that filtered through the dense leave of the woods, he sheathed the tool, and went over to the river that ran close by.

Bending over, he cupped his hands, and splashed the crisp liquid across his face, and began to scrub the sweat and blood from the scuffle away. Rubbing his hand together one last time in the running water, he stood back up, and walked over to the duffle bag a few feet from the waters edge, his rifle propped against the rock next to the bag. Undoing the zipper, he reached in, and pulling out a brown package, looked at the writing. Chicken teriyaki. Opening the rations, his eyebrows raised slightly at the bags contents, which closer resembled trail mix then the meal claimed. Taking a fist full, he sat on the rock, and chewed thoughtfully. After a few minutes of silent eating, he finished his lunch, and crumbling the bag into a ball, he pushed the digestible wrapper into his mouth, and chewing that, picked up his rifle. After shaking the weapon a moment, he jiggled the magazine slightly. Nodding, he shouldered the weapon as he got up from the rock, then bending over to rustle around once more, he suddenly said out loud, 'That’s very good. I almost didn't notice you.'

As Mesa straightened, the foliage of the woods behind him rustled, and turning he regarded the equine who walked into the clearing. Lighter toned tail swishing to swap away a troublesome leaf that still clung to her side, a teal colored unicorn walked from the gloom of the woods, her hooves not making a sound as she made her way over to the human. Nodding approvingly, she flashed a cheerful smile.

"Hardly as impressive as you, my good human. It's very rare to find ponies who are able to sense my presence, never mind one of your people."

Returning the smile, Mesa saluted. "Lyra Heartstring, I assume?" Lowering his hand, he held it out in the usual human method of greeting.

Still smiling, she nodded, and pressed her hoof into the outstrecthed palm. "Yep! Thats me. I take it Shining Armor told you about me."

The human shook his head, letting the hoof go as his brows knitted together slightly at the equines words.

"No , nothing about you. Captain Armor only told me to meet you here, and you'd walk me to Ponyville so I wouldn't frighten anyone. Then after registering my weapons at the Mayors office, you were too take me to someone named Twilight."

Giggling, she indicated with a tilt of her head to follow her. Getting up, he place a beret on his head, and shouldering the duffle and rifle, they walked into the woods. A few moments of silent contemplation passed, then Mesa asked "You seem to know the Captain ma'am. I'm aware your in the Royal Guards reserves, so I'd imagine you know the Captain."

Eye rolling internally, the mare turned her head to regard the human with a eye. "Oh, yes. I suppose we've been aware of each other for quite some time."

"And this Twilight fellow?"

Eyes forward again, the mare suppressed another giggle, and replied cheerfully, "She actually. Town librarian."

"I take it you two know each other then."

"Oh, I suppose, we cross paths now and again."

Somehow more exhausted then when he was fighting the manticore, Mesa fell silent. Talking in general was not his forte, so  such an extended conversation had taken its toll. And Lyra didn't feel any need to fill the silence with idle chatter, so for a time they only walked silently. Looking up at the sky a moment, Lyra suddenly said "That knife you have is rather unusual. Custom job?"

Nodding, he patted the sheathed weapon at his side. "Yes ma'am."

Looking over her shoulder, she regarded the human again. "Judging from your accent, your northern United States correct?"

"Good ears ma'am."

"Lyra, please. So, if your from there, why are you carrying a Kalashnikoph? I thought your country tended to favor the M-16 as standard."

Eyebrows lifting slightly, the human replied "Good eyes too, ma'.... umm, Lyra. And my names Mesa. I have to say its rare to see an equine whose interested in my people. From what I've seen, both humans and equines have no interest in the other outside of trade agreements."

Suppressing another giggle, Lyra only nodded. "Oh, I suppose you could say  I have an idle fancy in your species."

Nodding, he thought a moment. "Well, I don’t know why, but I've always have a fondness for the old AK. M-16 is a great rifle, and I love it too, but there a bit of a pain to clean, and since I was walking here, and am stationed here fore the foreseeable future, I needed something a bit easier to maintain."

Lyra hmmed slightly, and for a few they continued there trek through the Everfree.

"So, Ramires, any special somepony in your life."

Mesa grunted making the mare pause midstride, and she looked behind her. Mesa let out a breath, and said "Call me Mesa. And yeah... had a husband, died a few years back."

Lyra looked away, rubbing her right fore-hoof against her left fore-leg. "I'm... I'm sorry Mesa."

Mesa chuckled, and patted the equine on the shoulder, and Lyra smiled slightly back, then suddenly lifted her head, and looked at the human confused. "Wait, so that means your gay?"

The human shrugged. "Bi, I guess. I don’t much care for that label though, it makes me sound promiscuous."

Mesa snorted again, and crossed his arms. "You seem shocked."

Lyra pursed her muzzle, eyes tilted upwards thoughtfully. "Well, I've met other males of your species in Canterlot who like males, and they were a little..."

Mesa sighed, shaking his head. "Flighty, girly, feminine?"

"More like... not military material."

"Lyra, first of all, I'm  not technically homosexual. And secondly, my husband served proudly for two years in the marine corp, and he was anything but girly."

A little abashed, Lyra looked down again, flattening her ears against her skull slightly. Mesa rolled his eyes. Five minutes with a new equine, and already he hurt her. New fucking record.

"I'm sorry Mesa..."

Another sigh. "No, I am." Mesa rubbed the back of his neck, and the equine looked up hopefully.

"It's been a long road here, and I shouldn't take it out on you."

At this, Lyra brightened immediateley, and snapping her head back, nuzzled the humans cheek.  

"Its ok."

And with that she turned back around, humming cheerfully as the prooceded. Mesa shook his head again thinking, Incredible. You could strip your gears switching emotions like that, whole damn species must be bipolar or something.

"Say Mesa, that’s an interesting hat you have on. What’s that emblem?"

Grinning, the human suddenly stopped, and clicked his heels together. As Lyra turned to look at him, he saluted. "This 'hat' ma'am is the symbol of the brave men and women af the green beret!"

Lyra nodded, ohhing softly. "Oh right. Human military unit. Best equipment, best missions..." Mesa nodded, and added "And they expect the best in return." and with that they continued their walk. Still looking back, Lyra smirked.

"So, does that mean your the best Mesa?"

The human winked, and said, 'You bet your pretty tail I am." Lyra giggled, and looked forward once more, blushing. After a few minutes of thoughtful thought, she frowned. "Wait, how old are you?"

"Twenty one."

Lyra stopped, eyes widening, she gawked. "But... as I understand it, your military asks you to serve a total of eight years on your contract."

Mesa shrugged. "Joined when I was sixteen. Had already excelled in school, and got special permission from my parents."

Lyra still looked shocked. " But the green berets... they're an elite unit. To join them is grueling even by equines standards."

Mesa grinned again. "Took the exam right after basic. Got a perfect score."

Lyra felt like her jaw was gonna dislodge itself from the sudden drop. Since humans had begun to immigrate, she and every other guard got every piece of material they could on the humans military structure. The first time the teal unicorn had found out about the courses of joining the American special ops, she shuddered. A perfect score of three hundred to even get the chance to become a green beret was by itself was agony. First was the two mile run in under fourteen minutes, followed by one hundred sit ups in under two minutes, and ended with one hundred pushups in under two minutes. And that was only to get in! Her stallion Lero was fit, no doubt about that, but this human...

,

Mesa chuckled, and his face softened somewhat. "That was where I met my husband. Took me under his wing after training, and the day he said he loved me was the happiest I've ever been."

Lyra snapped her jaw shut, and smiled "I'd imagine so."

Mesa snorted, rolling his eyes. "But if he hadn't, I'd probably still remember that day."

Lyra's smile lessened somewhat. "Uhh, why?"

"Well, he confessed to me while we hunkered down in a bunker in the Australian outback, the Chinese military launching mortars."

To this, Lyra blinked. One of the first things Lero had learned after getting contact with his family was the war. In 2016, some country on Earth called China apparently made a large military push to take control of the rest of the world. Eventually, the invaded two island nations, one named Australia, the other New Zealand, Though the New Zealand force were crushed under the firepower of a superior force, Australia proved to be a more difficult challenge. But despite the ruggedness of the terrain, and the sturdiness of its people, they had been slowly losing the war. One week into the conflict, despite emphatic objections of the United Nations, a country called the United States stepped in, and with the Australian forces, forced the usurping army into retreat. The next day, after the armies had pulled out, the Chinese delegate to the U.N was found in his embassy, guards missing, a self-inflicted gunshot to his head. Another week past, and war was declared. As United States and NATO forces rolled, a message was sent out to every channel, radio, or simply shouted from entrenched positions: Surrender. Apparently, there had been a coup against the government, and after killing the heads of the communist nation, the head general ordered an immediate surrender.

Apparently, after the defeat of their military, the government was planning to detonate every nuclear ordinance they had underground as the invading forces rolled in. The general, seeing not only the insanity of his leaders but also heartsick over a unnecessary slaughter, finally acted. While the consulate was in session, he had busted down the door, killed the delegates, and took command of the country. After deactivating the ordinances, he ordered every last soldier to immediately and unconditionally surrender. And with that, three months in, world war three came to an immediate and abrupt end. But not before Leros only brother was lost in the conflict. It had taken Lero a long time to smile again after receiving the news.

Lyra smiled. "Well, better late than never I suppose."

Next Chapter: Chapter two Welcome to the neighborhood Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 3 Minutes