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Falling Stars Ch 8 Part 1

Deviation Actions

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Town Hall
Ponyville, Equestria
September 16th AD 3070/1023 RC



Twilight Sparkle sat quiescently as she absorbed the story the human leader had told them. Her mind was already marveling at the concepts of strange new worlds, "hyperspace", and vast interstellar empires, despite the fact that those worlds and empires warred with one another for such shallow things as power and wealth. The fact that they existed at all told her all she needed to know of the depths of the technical achievements that these alien beings had available.

The lavender unicorn glanced around the long table that was normally used for banquets, and she carefully observed every pony and human sitting there on the floor, the latter crossing their legs in a way that looked like it would be painful for a pony to emulate. McKenna was speaking at the moment, reciting the circumstances that had made his unit share the same "jump ship" with O'Connell's men. "It's actually normal to some degree," James explained. "Independent commands often can't afford their own JumpShips, considering how expensive they are, and most merchant captains aren't too picky about taking contracts for transport, so long as everyone abides by a JumpShip's neutrality and untouchable nature. O'Connell and his unit were heading the same way we were, so he hitched a ride on the same ship. Standard operating procedure, really."

"If you are not affiliated with him, then why were you heading the same direction then?" Starbuck asked, his voice still suspicious, though he had relaxed the tension from his body somewhat as the two groups spoke.

"We had a contract from Foundation Industries to escort their transport out to some remote proving ground and assist in testing some prototypes," James explained. "The leg outward was the same as O'Connell was taking to head into the Draconis Combine."

Schneider cleared his throat at that to grab everyone's attention. "Technically commander, we still have that contract," he said, speaking carefully. "And the Klepacki will be here soon enough."

"And technically, we're not violating that contract," James patiently said as he looked to his intelligence officer. "You went over the wording yourself. Article 2 clearly states that we're free to engage any forces that threaten civilian population centers."

"So long as the safety of the Klepacki and her cargo is assured at the moment of decision, yes," Schneider replied. "If we get back to the Inner Sphere there might be some argument over whether one could define being lost in an unknown system in a different reality as being "safe"."

"I think that can wait, though," James said, dismissing the idea with a wave before he turned to face Starbuck across the table. "The point I was trying to make, captain, is that we were never associated with O'Connell or his group. The only point of contact we had was through Foundation Industries while we were both fulfilling our garrison contracts on Bluford. And then only briefly after we found ourselves here after the misjump."

"I truly would like to believe that," Starbuck admitted, and then shook his head. "But you see the problem I have, I'm sure. It's hard to take you at your word when we cannot verify it from a neutral third party."

James sighed at that. "I know. Mercenaries know this better than most, in fact, considering the type of contracts and pay we get are dependent on our reputation. Which is the reason O'Connell didn't act like this back in our reality; he knew if he just went down to hit some random planet then word would get out that he went pirate, and before he knew it he would be on every nation's hit list."

"Or at least the ones that give a crap about that sort of thing," Schneider clarified.

"True. The Circinian Federation would have hired him before the Star League flattened them for collaborating with the Wobbies. Since then though there's been precious little money in piracy." James shook his head at that. "But more than enough money in state-sanctioned raids. I understand O'Connell and his Desperadoes were heading to the Draconis Combine to take up such a contract to raid Ghost Bear holdings for the DCMS."

"Please," Starbuck said, holding up a hoof over the table. "I do not have your background. Could you explain a bit simpler for me?"

James took a moment to think. Then he took in a deep breath and began to speak. "Mercenaries like ourselves and O'Connell depend on a good reputation, and in the past that kept him straight, or straight as he could be given his nature. Here, there's no higher authority like an interstellar nation or the Star League, so he's out to get what he wants without being afraid of the repercussions. Without the threat of censure and punishment he's let loose his baser instincts."

"I see," the steel blue pegasus said, and then fell silent as he thought. After a few moments he turned to look at Twilight. "Miss Sparkle, I admit that I feel a bit out of my depth. You are a bearer of one of the Elements, though, and a powerful magician as well. Is there anything you can do to help test the truth of this story?"

Twilight felt her face flush a bit as all eyes turned to her, and she thought rapidly for a few moments before she cleared her throat. "I can't really say, captain," she admitted sheepishly. "This is all so new, and they're from such a different reality that I don't know if traditional divination could even apply.

"Yet on a personal note," she added, and then paused as she hadn't quite intended to voice this part out loud. With everyone looking at her to continue, though, Twilight mentally sighed and shook her head. "Personally, I can't help but feel like James is telling the truth. Perhaps that's just gratitude that he and his men didn't immediately attack us, or the fact that they were willing to leave their friends behind and come to our town to talk, but these actions don't seem like the kind of thing an invader would bother with." She paused again and then shuddered. "Especially not one who could simply roll over Ponyville with those machines of theirs."

"And anything in their way," Starbuck said in agreement. He unconsciously twitched his injured wing at that and then grimaced at the spark of pain the movement ignited. "Still," he said, turning back to McKenna. "Your offers of helping with our army, while sounding like the sort of assistance an ally would give, could also be construed as an attempt to learn where we are concentrated and allow an enemy to attack us directly."

"That is true," James agreed with a nod, surprising the ponies. "Our history is filled with those who have used backstabbing and betrayal to win wars. Point of fact, I don't think there's been any war that hasn't involved such behavior. You're showing an impressive level of common sense by being wary of it.

"But at the same time, may I point out that knowing where your army is concentrated means very little when that army is virtually impotent against its foes," James added. "From what miss Sparkle and her friends have explained to us, your armed forces are literally medieval in equipment and tactics, with only your special abilities and magic as a force multiplier. Against a 31st century mechanized force you don't really offer much in the way of a genuine threat, no matter how much damage you could do before you're defeated."

A moment of silence fell over the group, though it was quickly dispelled by Starbuck clearing his throat. "I hate to admit it, but you do have a point," he said quietly, though his face showed the strain it took to openly acknowledge McKenna's words. "Yet you must understand that trust cannot be offered readily."

"I do understand," James said, and then sighed. "The problem is one of time. It takes time to build trust, we both know this. But O'Connell for whatever his faults cannot be ignorant that time is not on his side."

"What do you mean?" Starbuck asked, his face showing confusion.

"Mechanized warfare offers a lot of advantages, but it comes with some hefty disadvantages as well," James explained. "No machine lasts forever; entropy ensures that. Parts wear out, or are damaged or destroyed in battle, ammunition is used at prodigious rates, and our ablative armor needs to be replaced. To support a battalion of BattleMechs takes hundreds of man-hours of work even when the unit hasn't seen combat, and the stress of war doubles or even triples those requirements. I'm not sure whether O'Connell has sufficient technical staff to keep that up, but I do know he can't manufacture spare parts or ammunition, and given your nation's technology levels, I doubt he can get them from scavenging or forcing factory workers to make them for him.

"So it is inevitable that his machines will start to break down some time, which means that O'Connell will need to have a plan of action that takes that into account." McKenna continued, after a pause for breath. "I admit I don't know much about O'Connell, but Johannes here does." James nodded to his fellow mechwarrior at that.

Schneider took the hint and nodded. "The commander is right about that. For a brief time I worked for the Federated Commonwealth's Ministry of Information, Intelligence, and Operations, in the Military Intelligence Liaison branch. I helped the Armed Forces track down and locate cells of a terrorist organization known as Free Skye. O'Connell was identified by informants as being part of Free Skye's paramilitary forces, and I saw his dossier; he's a ruthless man, with little inhibitions, though he's not cruel so he tends to remain logical and focused. He's not a great tactical or strategic mind, but he's no dunce either. Nice middle of the road average human being, for someone who doesn't mind shooting up women and children." Although his voice had started even, Schneider dropped into a growl at the last sentence. His countenance had darkened similarly, and he shook his head. "He might take a while to understand the situation James lined out, but he will grasp it soon enough if he hasn't already. Which means he has two options.

"First, he can pull back and try to run for it," Schneider continued. "He can try and say that you struck first, and that he and his men acted in self-defense and ask to be taken back with us if and when we attempt to return home."

"What!" Applejack snapped, her facing mirroring the shock and anger on the other ponies' faces. "That's th' most sun-blasted thing I ever heard!"

"I didn't say it would make sense, only that he could try it," Schneider said calmly, trying to soothe the locals' feelings. "We wouldn't believe him, of course, but at the least if he acted peaceably and didn't engage you directly any more, then I'm not sure if captain Marquette would refuse to take him back. After all, no one wants to be abandoned and JumpShip captains tend to rather faithful to their charges."

"I am not sure I can believe that," Starbuck said, sounding shocked. "How could he, after what O'Connell has done?"

"Because he wasn't there to see it," James stated with a shrug. "It becomes his word against yours, and that issue of trust goes both ways, captain. Just as you have trouble trusting us without a reliable way to verify our words, so Marquette would be forced to consider your word suspect without a confirmation of his own."

Starbuck thought on that for a moment before he nodded. "I can see that, yes," he begrudgingly said. He then turned and looked to Schneider. "But you said there was a second option he had?"

"Yes, and given his personality, the far more likely one," Schneider said, and he leaned back slightly. "He can realize that it's only a matter of time until his unit falls, so he goes for an all out attack. He'll spend time to gather information from interrogating your people and sending out lances of 'Mechs on reconnaissance-in-force missions, and when he knows where he can hurt you most, he'll strike with everything he has in order to force your army and your princess to action, so he can crush you all before his forces start to break down."

A chill silence fell over the room at that, and it stretched into an uncomfortable length before Applejack spoke up. "How can y'all be sure of that?" She asked quietly, her tone morbidly inquisitive.

"As we've noted before, humanity has a long, long history of war," James said, his voice equally quiet. "Scenes of this nature have played out countless times before, and likely will do so again and again until the very last human draws his very last breath. We only need to look to our past to understand the present and the future, and right now O'Connell will be only too aware of his need for victory at all costs."

"How long would we have before this attack?" Starbuck asked after another, shorter moment of silence.

"That is indeterminate," Schneider replied. "It depends on how long it takes O'Connell to adapt to this new world and its different rules, how much he was shaken up by facing your princess, and the efforts your militia in Manhattan at disrupting his operations."

"It's Manehattan," Starbuck corrected.

"Right, sorry," Schneider said with a shrug. "Anyway, my point is we can't be sure when he starts until he actually sends out recon lances. When he does that our window to act will be extremely limited to prepare to meet his thrust, as he won't want to give you enough time to realize what he's up to."

Starbuck considered this for a few moments. "I regret to say that makes far too much sense for me to dismiss it," he said, and then gave an openly appraising look over the three humans sitting across the table from him. "I can see why Miss Sparkle has found it in her heart to trust you: you are open with your thoughts and feelings and share your knowledge easily." He fell silent again, his face scrunching up slightly as he thought. "I'm afraid that I still cannot advocate cooperation with you just yet, though. The security of Equestria is far too important to trust blindly.

"However, I believe that you should meet princess Luna," the pegasus continued. "She would be in a better position to judge your intentions, and also to begin working with you if she finds you acceptable." Starbuck turned and looked to Twilight then. "I believe you called for your assistant?"

"Yes. I don't know why he and Dash haven't come back yet," Twilight said in confusion. "Perhaps we should adjourn for now and think over what's been said? That should give me time to find out what happened to them."

"An excellent idea, I think," Starbuck replied, and the looked to McKenna with an unspoken question on his face.

James nodded to the pegasus. "That sounds like a good idea," he said. "And it if we are to be working together – of that I believe there is little to doubt considering we're telling the truth – then it should help everyone to see us and know that all humans aren't scum."

"Fair enough," Starbuck said, and then stood. The others around the table did so as well, though the humans were cautious about it even despite the town hall being quite sizable. Slowly they filed out of the building and into the sunlit town square, where a murmuring crowd of ponies had gathered. Once the humans had come out the sound dropped significantly, and more than a few gasps could be heard.

"Aw shucks," Applejack muttered. "This don't look good."

"I've seen worse," James nonchalantly said. "Mercs ain't exactly loved by all."

"Oh wow! Looks like a party!" Pinkie Pie said, bouncing out and away from the others. "Hey everypony! Are you ready to par-tay?"

A grim silence answered the pink pony's question. Somepony coughed while the others just stared at her. Fortunately Pinkie had seen such tough crowds before, and her enthusiasm wasn't dampened one bit as she bounced back up the steps of town hall. "Come on, ponies! We've got some new super special friends that are going to help us so let's all welcome them to Ponyville and let them know we don't blame them for the stuff other guys do!"

A quiet murmur started up again, and Twilight stepped forward to move abreast of her friend. "Pinkie, I don't think this is a good time for a party," she said somewhat nervously.

"Au contraire! This is the perfect time for a swell shindig! A super slap-happy celebration! A hip hop hullabaloo! A-" Pinkie was cut off then as Applejack moved up to stuff a hoof in the pink pony's mouth.

"Thank you, Applejack," Twilight Sparkle said to her friend, and then turned to face the crowd and cleared her throat. "Attention everypony, please listen to me. I know that you might be afraid or concerned, but these humans are much nicer than the ones who attacked Manehattan."

"Twilight!" A familiar voice broke in, sounding distant. Everyone in the square looked up and around for the source of the noise only to see a multi-hued blur racing in at high speed. Rainbow Dash barely cleared the top of the crowd as she struggled against her own momentum and managed to stop just in front of the group standing on the town hall steps. "We got a problem!" The cyan pegasus exclaimed as she landed.

"What problem?" Twilight asked. She was about to ask about Spike but she saw her dragon assistant slip off of Dash's back and dizzily stagger over to her side.

"A big one," the baby dragon said after he regained his balance. "Here," he added, holding up a scroll he'd been clutching. "It's for captain Starbuck."

The named guard pegasus reached forward with his head and snatched the proffered scroll with his mouth. Then without a word he set it on the ground and deftly unrolled it with his front hooves.

Twilight glanced at the captain briefly before turning back to her two friends. "Let me guess: you read it, right?" She asked sarcastically.

"Er," Dash muttered.

"Well, it wasn't marked for his eyes only," Spike offered.

Twilight frowned and opened her mouth to admonish her friends when Starbuck grunted something uncouth. "Looks like you were right after all," he said and looked at the humans. "This is a scout report that says a group of four of O'Connell's war machines have left Manehattan and are heading in this direction."

The murmur of the crowd grew worried and several ponies on the outskirt left while Starbuck stepped back and nudged the scroll towards McKenna, who bent over and picked it up from the pavement. Yet another peculiar parallel, James mused as he realized the script was English based, much as the ponies' spoken language. He read the dispatch twice and then sighed. "They're moving fast, but other than that it's not very descriptive," he said. "I can't blame your scouts for not knowing makes and models, though. Do you think you can send a message and get him to come here?"

"That's possible," Starbuck asked. "Why?"

James pulled a small flip book from a pocket on his shirt and held it up. "He can tell us more, he just doesn't know it yet. If you can you call him and get him here quicker than that force then we'll know how to respond."

Starbuck thought about the offer, though he didn't take long. "Miss Sparkle, I'm afraid I'm going to have to borrow your assistant," he said to the lavender unicorn.

"Of course, captain," Twilight said. "What can the rest of us do to help?"

"Get these ponies cleared out of the square and taking cover," Starbuck replied with a shake of his head towards the thinning but still appreciable crowd.

"And maybe one other thing," James interjected.

        * * * *

Recon Lance 3, "Thompson's Gazelles"
Halfway between Manehattan and Ponyville
September 16th


"Looks like another farm, Gazelle One," the voice of Gazelle-4, Margaret Vang, said into lieutenant Thompson's ears via his neurohelmet speakers. "Dairy from the looks of it."

"Mmm, beef," Gazelle-3, Yolinda Ramirez added in.

"Cut the chatter, three," Thompson said. "And no provisioning for the moment, we're doing recon and slash only. However," he smirked as he turned his Spider and started moving it again. "I'll make sure to mark the location down for later."

"Copy that ell-tee," Vang replied with a chuckle. "Forming up, taking van."

Thompson merely nodded to himself as he watched the Locust stride forward at speed, looking like some alien bird-insect hybrid from a bad horror movie. He waited until the 20-ton 'mech had passed him by before he pushed his throttle forward to the lance's considerable cruising speed of seventy-five kilometers per hour. His Spider could have easily cruised at 86km/h, as could the Locust and the other Spider Gazelle-2 rode in, but Ramirez's Jenner was a bit slower on the long haul. Not that I mind trading a small bit of speed for the better hitting power that Jenner gives us, Thompson thought as he and the scout lance formed up and moved out towards their first major objective of the sweep.

He glanced down at the map display on a secondary MFD to check this distance and nodded again. After a glance forward to make sure he wasn't going to run into anything soon, Earl Thompson freed a hand from its normal position on the joystick and entered in a few commands to mark the map as he promised. Good eating later, and I don't care if the damn things talk, I want fresh steak.

"More fliers above," his second, Wesley Sosa, noted. Thompson quickly snapped his eyes to look over the display in front of him and relaxed a bit when he saw only a few of the winged ponies displayed on his holographic HUD. Those chunks of lead they dropped might've been a poor man's kinetic projectile, but they still hurt. Unlike the medium and heavier 'mechs of the Desperadoes, the company of light 'mechs whose responsibility was reconnaissance and anti-personnel work had nearly been put out of commission by the initial battle in Manehattan. Impressive a 'mech may be, they're not invincible. I wish some people would remember that idea and how it applies even more so to light 'mechs. It had taken the entire week since then to replace the armor and one smashed actuator that the earthquake and airborne attack had damaged, and Thompson was not eager to dip back into the battalion's technical supplies again anytime soon.

Thus when he saw that the pegasi in the air were only a few and heading west at a high speed that only airborne life could achieve, he felt a bit safer. "Keep an eye on them, two," Thompson said as he returned his attention to the ground. "They're probably just running ahead to let the fresh meat know we're on the way."

"I don't like it," Sosa replied. "Shouldn't let them know where we are."

"Well until they finish the airstrip we won't have cover from the fighters," Thompson explained patiently, despite the fact that his 30-ton 'mech was loping along. "So for now just keep an eye on them and take some laser shots if they get close."

"Understood Gazelle One," Sosa replied, in the voice that let Thompson know he was quietly sulking.

The lieutenant muted his mic and sighed in private. Wes worries too much. There's nothing these little ponies can do to really hurt us unless they come at us in waves, and if they try that again we'll just mow them down some more.

        * * * *

Everfree Forest
2.7km West of Ponyville


"I can't believe I got roped into this," Applejack muttered as she strained against the harness wrapped around her middle, her legs pumping hard as she pulled the laden cart along the path through the forest at high speed.

"As I recall you volunteered," Johannes "Hermes" Schneider wryly observed from where he crouched in an otherwise empty apple cart. His amusement was tempered however by the unsteady nature of the cart and its locomotion, both of which he was unused to and made him nervous.

"I volunteered ta help, not to be a taxi puller."

"If it's any consolation, I never liked taking taxis."

"As a matter of fact that that don't consolate me at all!" Applejack snapped with a glance back.

Schneider shrugged at the pony's irritated look. "In that case you should save your breath so you can run faster so this will over more quickly."

Applejack let out a tired groan that sounded suspiciously like a growl, despite her equine nature. Nevertheless she kept her peace and concentrated on the path ahead and on her body, wringing as much speed and strength out of it as she could. Her efforts were soon rewarded as they emerged from under the forest canopy and into the clearing where the Heart of Steel had grounded. The orange earth pony had been told the name of the ship and thought it was silly at the time, though now as she blinked her eyes clear and slowed to approach it closely she saw that it at least was impressive enough to warrant any name it was given.

The giant BattleMechs standing guard near the ship made her wary, but much as Twilight had done, Applejack found herself extending a bit of trust towards this second group of humans, so she continued forward. Of course, the fact that James had used a radio to call ahead and let them know that she was pulling Schneider back had helped her piece of mind, as well.

"Well well well," a voice sounded from the tallest, ugliest of the machines, nearly startling Applejack with its volume. "Look who took the pony express."

"That pun wasn't funny when Jim used it, either," Schneider shot back with a yell as Applejack finally pulled to a stop at the base of the ship's embarkation ramp. The human quickly climbed out of the cart and walked up to where the pony was working to catch her breath. "Thank you miss Applejack," Schneider said earnestly. "I do appreciate the effort."

"'Twern't nothin'," Applejack replied, still breathing heavily. "Just help my town, 'kay?"

"You got it," Schneider replied, and then turned to dash off towards his Firestarter, stripping his over clothes off as he went. Applejack watched in with a sense of perverse curiosity, wondering why the humans had bothered with clothing at all when they were just going to take it off again to climb into their fiddlin' machines. Then again, they did say they can't control the weather where they're from, AJ remembered as she slowly started to walk in a circle so she could go back the way she came. I think I'd be wearin' a lot more clothes if I needed to keep rain off all the time or somethin' like that.

Movement from behind startled the little pony just then, and Applejack reared back as five human-sized shapes ran by her at a speed she didn't think any one of them could actually reach on only two legs. She didn't have time to reflect on it, unfortunately, as the cart was bumped by one of the figures and tipped to the side, taking the earth pony to the ground with it. "Ack!" Applejack grunted out, more out of surprise than any serious pain. "Ahh, horse apples."

"Sorry!" A voice called back from the diminishing shapes.

"I'll make ya sorry ya consarned grass-munchin' parasprite!" Applejack shouted back.

"I like this one," the voice from the first, ugly machine sounded. "She's got spunk."

"Don't think I ain't got 'nuff for you too!" Applejack snapped, twisting her head to try and get the big thing in her vision. "Makin' fun of a lady while she's down and can't get up! Why I oughta buck the smug right out o' your voice!"

The voice laughed at that. "I really like her. Can we keep her, missus McKenna?" The big machine twisted its torso to face another, smaller, but more sleek looking one while its pilots' voice dropped into an affectionate parody of a child's begging. "Please?"

"Shut up Dorian, and get back to radio," a female voice sounded from the second machine, surprising Applejack. "Miss, I'll have someone from the ship come out and right you if you need help."

"Help? Ha! I don't need any help." Applejack retorted as she started to stand. Or rather, she tried to, but her muscles were still a bit weak from the run from Ponyville, and she flopped back down on her side. "Well, maybe a little bit," she admitted with a blush. She didn't get a reply, but figured that the sudden movement of hundreds of tonnes of metal was a good excuse to suspend a conversation. Despite her temporary weakness, Applejack managed to raise her head up a bit so she could level her sight, and the orange pony had to admit that watching the huge machines break out into movement was awe-inspiring when they're not out to get you.

Now how the hay do I get up?


        * * * *

Recon Lance 3,"Thompson's Gazelles"
600m East of Ponyville, Equestria


"Okay, I thought the city was bad," Gazelle-4 observed. "But seriously? This is sickeningly cute."

"Understood and agreed, four," Thompson said, and he spared a moment to pop his faceplate and rub a hand over his face. The magnification of the town that was their first objective had shown not only a set of houses and other buildings that looked like something from a book about medieval Terra, but several of the more prominent buildings were clearly styled to display their function in the most gaudily way possible. "Regardless of our feelings, we need to conduct a sweep and make sure it's not being used to stage ground forces."

"Understood ell-tee," Vang replied. "Standard spread?"

"A small change this time," Thompson said, while he turned his Spider to the right. "I'll take right, Four takes left, Two and Three head through town. Try not to burn the thing down unless you have to, the boss wants to start avoiding unnecessary collateral damage."

"And what about necessary collateral damage?" Sosa asked as he moved his Spider forward, taking the lead in front of Ramirez's</i> Jenner</i>.

"Again, try to avoid it," Thompson repeated. "But if you gotta make a point, make sure it sticks with the ones that live."

"Understood, One."

        * * * *

"They're splitting up."

James nodded as he crouched in the entrance to the town hall. "Standard sweep procedure of a small town or village. One 'mech on either side and two in the middle capable of moving out to support one flank or the other in case of an ambush."

Starbuck grunted and nodded from where he stood with McKenna, both using the shadows cast by the building to try and keep themselves from being too visible. "It's similar to our sweep tactics, though we prefer to deploy in pairs," he said, his voice quiet but even.

"A sensible precaution for most situations," James agreed, his tone a match to the pegasus'. "A BattleMech has advanced sensing and holographic display technology, though. Basically, it can see in a full circle around it and compress that view so that a pilot can observe it at a single glance."

"Making it harder to be surprised," Starbuck said, some admiration sneaking into his speech, though he kept it at a near-whisper. "Impressive. Why operate in a unit of four then?"

"Various reasons," James said with a shrug. "Mainly tactical flexibility. A lance is the smallest formation that trains together regularly, so the pilots all know each other well, allowing them to respond quickly as a unit to changing conditions. Also by having a group of four you can tailor the composition so that different 'Mech designs cover each other's deficiencies. It also simplifies logistics if you base your larger units off of a single common formation that you just multiply."

"How can you two be so calm?" Twilight asked in a strained whisper from where she stood deeper in the building, just in front of a mass of ponies who'd taken refuge inside. "Those things are walking through Ponyville and you're comparing notes?"

"Civilians never change, do they?" James asked the pegasus.

"Not that I've ever seen," Starbuck agreed with a shrug.

Twilight snorted in a most equine manner at the two males. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you were enjoying this."

"Not exactly, miss Sparkle," Starbuck replied. "But there is something to be said for sharing one's work with somepony else in the same field."

No one had anything to say to that, and a moment passed in silence. Soon enough, however, the first vibrations could be felt through the floor, and Starbuck frowned. "They'll be passing right by this building," he said. "Perhaps we should pull back inside?"

"That would be a good idea," James agreed, and they both slowly moved back as the first of the 'mechs approached the town square. "Your scout has good eyes and memory, by the way," James said. "He nailed the designs perfectly once I showed him the recognition guide."

"I'll be sure to tell him that," Starbuck replied. "It might mollify him after being ordered away."

James shook his head a bit at the guard's tone. "I'm sorry for that, but you ponies aren't quite up to the task yet. However, you've got some good things going for you, and if we can just get some time I've got a few ideas how to use your natural talents as force multipliers."

"You've mentioned those before, what are they?" Starbuck asked.

A sudden burp from inside the building preempted James' reply, and the ponies standing in the hall turned and parted to show a slightly embarrassed Spike standing in their midst holding a new scroll. "I think it's for you, captain," he said, walking forward and offering it to the pegasus.

Starbuck took it and placed it on the floor before he unrolled it. He squinted a bit as the light in the hall was dim, but soon enough he heard a click and a spot of light appeared on the parchment. The steel blue pegasus glanced up and saw that James was holding a light. "Thank you," Starbuck said and then bent down to read the missive.

Seconds later her swore again. "Haystacks and hail bait," he muttered, and then glanced over to Spike. "Didn't you send that letter to the princess?"

"I-I did," Spike protested as he was put on the spot.

"What's the problem, captain?" Twilight asked, stepping forward.

"Princess Luna has seen fit to deploy the reconstituted assault wing," Starbuck replied. "Despite my request that she keep them in Canterlot and refrain from engaging the enemy per your suggestion, McKenna."

"But they'll be slaughtered!" Twilight exclaimed, causing the crowd behind her to mutter worriedly.

"I know that," Starbuck countered, and then sighed. "But I can't countermand the princess. How long until your men get here?" He directed this last question to the human commander.

James flipped his wrist and checked the strap-on chronometer he wore. "Another five minutes, if Applejack wasn't boasting about her ground speed."

"She wasn't," Rainbow Dash interjected from where she'd been standing with Ivan off to the side of the two commanding officers. "AJ's the fastest pony on the ground you can find in Ponyville."

"The note was time-dated as per the old wartime handbooks," Starbuck began somewhat obliquely. "If the princess wasn't exaggerating, the assault wing is already en route. Given their flight time while carrying bombardment slugs they'll be here in two minutes or so."

Dash blinked at that, and then shot up into the air until she reached one of the upper story windows that let the light in. "Haystacks, I can see them," she reported.

"Can't we warn them to wait at least until my men can keep the enemy distracted?" James asked, and then pointed to Spike "How about Puff the magic dragon over there?"

"Excuse me?" Spike asked in an irked tone.

Starbuck just shook his head. "Pegasi don't have unicorn magic to hold scrolls up when one appears, as I'm sure you've noted from the ones I've received. Anything we send will just drop towards the ground and the guards won't dive to get a missive when they're on a mission."

"Let me go then," Rainbow said as she dropped back to the ground. "Applejack may be the fastest on the ground, but I'm the fastest pony in Equestria, period."

"You're not wearing armor," Starbuck countered.

"I won't need it," Dash retorted. "Not at the speed I fly."

The two pegasi stared at one another for a moment in a silent contest of wills. Finally, though, Starbuck sighed. "There's no time to argue, and you are the fastest pony I know."

"Right, bye!" Dash said, and before anyone could say another word she disappeared in a cloud of dust and a blur of color.

"Sweet mother," James said. "She is fast!"

"Just please don't let her hear you say that," Twilight said with an air of long suffering. "Now what do we do?"

James shrugged. "Wait and pray."

        * * * *

"More fliers, two o'clock high," Thompson reported to his lance, since he had taken the northern approach and thus was the closest to the enemy's approach vector. "Gazelle Three I need you to move to the town's northern edge and use those arm-mounted lasers of yours for AA."

"Copy that, One," Ramirez replied. "Turning north and- what the frack!"

"What in Hell's name was that?" Sosa called out a moment later.

"Report!" Thompson demanded, though a split second later he understood their outbursts as he saw a rainbow-colored blur streak into the sky, heading for the incoming fliers. "Nevermind, I see it."

"Friggin' thing popped out of the circular building in the center of town," Sosa reported.

"Must be some kind of messenger," Thompson said. "Okay, change of orders. Two and Three, move back to the center of town and pick up positions around that building. I'm coming to join you. Four, halt your sweep and keep an eye out for anyone trying to flee. I have a feeling we just found a command post."

"What about the fliers?" Sosa asked.

"I doubt they'll attack when their own town is in the way," Thompson replied. "But for safety's sake I want Three keeping track of them while you and I, Wes, go see if we can't knock off a general or something."

        * * * *

"Ahh, haystacks," Starbuck muttered as the footfalls of the enemy 'mechs started growing louder again. "They must have seen where Dash left from."

"Is there another way out of this building?" James asked, glancing around.

"Thinking about saving your skin already?" Starbuck asked angrily.

James frowned at the pony. "They undoubtedly know something's up with this place. If we can distract them, then these people," he waved a hand towards the many dozens crowded into the town hall, "might be able to get out while keep the enemy occupied."

"Ivan not think that good idea, commander," Ivan piped up from where he stood rock still. "We only have pistols. Not good against 'mechs. Also they not know we here yet. We spoil surprise if we walk out."

"I know, but this building has become target number one on their hit list," James replied to his subordinate. "We need to think of the civilians first."

"Indeed," Starbuck interjected. "But if your friend is right, then we need to keep them from finding you just yet until your soldiers get here. I'll go out and see if I can't stall them."

"They're just as likely to shoot you as not," James warned.

"I'll take that risk," Starbuck replied. "You just get these ponies out if it comes to that."

"Trusting me already?" James asked with a raised eyebrow as the 'mech footfalls finally stopped just outside.

"It's either you or nothing, so I'll take what I can get," Starbuck replied, and then smirked a bit. That smirk died a premature death, however, when a voice boomed from outside. "Alright, we know someone's in there, we saw your messenger leave. Come out quietly and I won't be forced to level the building."

Human and pegasus shared a look before the latter took in a breath and then slowly trotted forward, pushing open the doors that had been closed after Dash's sudden departure. Starbuck slowed to a slow walk as he left town hall and looked up, blinking in the early afternoon glare. Slowly his eyes adjusted and he made out the three ominious shapes, two human-like facing him from different sides of the square, and a third, boxy machine on the other side of some houses to the north that faced towards the assault wing in the air. Thankfully, the pegasi seemed to have heeded Dash's warning and were keeping their distance by orbiting the town, warily watching for any change in the situation.

"What have we here?" The voice from the rightmost machine asked.

Starbuck turned his body to face it squarely. "I am captain Starbuck of their majesties' royal guards and army. You are trespassing on land I have been charged to defend."

"So I am," the voice replied. "May I presume you are the superior officer here?"

"I am," Starbuck replied strongly. "And you are?"

"I am lieutenant Richard Thompson, of the O'Connell's Desperadoes mercenary company. I'm afraid I must ask you and your men- I mean, your soldiers to surrender," Thompson said, confident despite having to correct himself. "You are promised to be kept safe under guard as prisoners of war until this conflict is over."

"You'll excuse me if I find that offer spurious," Starbuck retorted, his voice laced with anger. "I was there at Manehattan when you lot landed. I saw what your commanding officer did."

"Then you should know why it would be foolish to refuse us," Thompson replied. To punctuate his words, the two weapons jutting from his machine's chest aimed downward at the pegasus with an audible sound of movement. "As for our CO, he's had a bit of a change of heart. He wants to avoid further needless bloodshed despite the relentless and unprovoked attack your leader took upon herself to launch."

"What!" Starbuck yelled out, his face turning red underneath his coat. "O'Connell attacked first! He killed innocent ponies to make a point. I was there, I saw it!"

"So you say," the lieutenant returned mockingly. "Undoubtedly that is the version of events you were told to repeat to cover up for your princess' lack of self-control. However, major O'Connell is more than willing to let bygones be bygones and allow the clearly oppressed peoples of this world to join with us as we fight against the ruling class."

The pegasus guard looked about ready to burst into flame, and his face had turned purple. "You... How... Are you mad?"

"I am quite sane and serious, captain," Thompson said. "Deadly serious. Now will you surrender?"

Silence fell upon the town square as Starbuck stood alone, his face contorted in anger and confusion. His expression cycled several times before it finally settled upon a serious, yet reserved demeanor, whereupon he lifted his chin towards the enemy machine. "I cannot surrender Ponyville," he flatly refused.

"Ponyville? What a terrible name," Thompson said, his voice tinged with disbelief. "In any case, it will no longer be your con-"

Starbuck found himself further confused when the lieutenant cut himself off. Then the sound of explosions could be heard coming from the west and understanding overtook him.

        * * * *

Corporal Margaret Vang sighed in boredom as she looked over the town from the vantage point of her Locust's cockpit/head assembly. Her HUD painted the icons of the other members of her lance clearly enough despite the few two story buildings the town had interrupting her line of sight, and so she felt little concern for any serious threats. Thus she was mainly scanning the ground around the western edge of the village proper for any attempts by the locals to sneak something or someone out that might be valuable to capture or destroy, or possibly to prevent an enemy force from maneuvering around for an ambush. She also kept switching her gaze to the sky as the fliers continued their lazy orbit around the town, wary about being caught in the open and alone, though she trusted her speedy 'mech to outmaneuver any dive-bombing attacks.

Because of her boredom and split attention, Vang's immediate reaction to seeing a pair of unknown BattleMechs jump jet out of the forest behind her was to stare dumbly in incomprehension. This state only lasted a half second though before alarms sounded in her cockpit, warning the mechwarrior of multiple target locks, and Vang sprang into action. "Contact! Enemy 'mechs west of the town!" She called even as she turned her 'mech and started moving it forward.

A wave of missiles arced in even as the Locust's myomers began to contract, however, and the small cluster of long-range missiles fell down on the thin back armor of the corporal's 'mech. She was somewhat lucky in that only two of the missiles managed to hit, stripping away the protection on her center rear torso but otherwise leaving the Locust operational as the other three missiles of the salvo blasted craters into the dirt around the 'mech's feet.

"How many, Vang? What types?" Thompson asked via the radio, his voice sounding in the corporal's ears.

Margaret ignored him for a second while she jinked her 'mech to the right and took aim for a street that would lead her into town. "Two of them," she called out as the Locust ramped up speed. She checked a secondary MFD and then spoke again. "Warbook says an Assassin and a Firestarter omni."

"McKenna's men!" Thompson realized. Vang, though, didn't hear anything else he might have said as another volley of LRMs sailed in, and this time the full barrage hit. All five missiles from the Assassin bored into her 'mech's left arm and shook the entire machine with the explosions, while a sudden red mark on the armor diagram on Vang's HUD denoted that the machine gun on the stubby arm had been blasted away along with all of the armor on that limb, leaving only a tangled wreck that would be useless for anything short of ramming it into the enemy's machines.

That damage would pale, however, as the Firestarter fired both of its large lasers just then. One missed, its blood-red beam trail of ionized air glowing menacingly overhead. The other weapon, though, hit dead on, and it ripped into the right rear torso armor and vaporized it. The burning photons didn't finish with the paltry protection and the leftover energy ripped deep into the 20-ton 'mech's torso, cutting structural supports down like weeds until nothing was left and the last of the beam spent itself on the inside of the frontal armor.

Bereft of all its supporting structure, the right side of the Locust collapsed in on itself with a torturous squeal while the right arm simply fell to the ground without anything left to anchor it. The sudden loss of so much mass threw the 'mech's balance off immediately, and Vang struggled desperately to keep it upright by twisting in her seat, hoping the neurohelmet she wore would register the change in brainwaves and import it into the Locust's movements. Unfortunately, it proved to be too little of a help, and the light 'mech pitched forward and augured into the loamy earth at eighty kilometers per hour, digging a short but pronounced trench with its jutting torso.

Vang blinked several times to try and clear her eyesight, which had gone blurry from the sudden and violent impact. Once her eyes began to focus again, she toggled an advanced damage display on her secondary MFD and stifled a groan at the sheer volume of damage done by both the enemy's fire and the fall.

She had no further time to dwell on that, however, before the enemy Firestarter pulled to a stop next to her and five figures in battle armor dropped off of its torso. Realizing she was outclassed and about to be the direct focus of men in suits that would allow them to rip her cockpit open and kill her with ease, Margaret reached over to her engine control panel and put her 'mech's reactor into a cold shutdown to show her surrender.

        * * * *

"The Locust is down. The pilot's calling it quits," Schneider called as he waited patiently for the Blackfoot squad to disembark. Can't say I'm in a hurry to move while I let the heat drop, the mechwarrior thought as he felt the sweltering warmth in his cockpit start to decline. Firing that much and jumping puts a strain even on double-strength heat sinks.

The active probe suit beeped for his attention then, and Schneider nodded to himself before triggering the radio again. "They're turning to run north. Blackfoot squad, move into the town and meet up with the commander. Tania," he continued, glancing over to the Assassin out of habit. "Head east and try to cut them off. And for God's sake, watch where you throw those LRMs, there are civvies around."

"I haven't missed yet, have I?" Tania Griffin replied easily. "But don't worry, three, I'll watch my fire."

"Good girl, now go," Schneider said as he turned his 'mech to the north and triggered his jump jets again.

        * * * *

"How long did the captain say to hold up here?" The brown pegasus leading the assault wing asked of the strange cyan mare who'd raced up to meet them.

Rainbow Dash took a moment to shrug as she flew next to the leader at the head of the others. "Only until the second group of humans comes to help," she explained.

"I still don't know why he's so trusting of them," the brown lieutenant muttered. "Seems awfully convenient they show up just now."

Rainbow Dash shot him a sheepish grin. "Life is like that in Ponyville sometimes," she said, still keeping the grin on her face.

"Look!" The call came from one of the pegasi in the back. Dash and the guards all followed his pointing hoof down to the ground and watched as the two 'mechs from the Dark Horse jumped out of the Everfree Forest and engaged and took down the Locust.

"Okay, that was cool," Dash observed to no pony in particular. Then she turned her attention to the other three Desperado 'mechs and watched as they turned to start moving north, while the two Dark Horse units split up, one heading to the east of Ponyville and the other leaping towards the middle of town on silvery jets. A thought entered her head, and before she knew it Dash started talking. "Okay lieutenant, those orange and yellow ones are the only ones to target," she said, pointing out the withdrawing light 'mechs. "Wait until they get out of town and are fighting the others before you attack, okay? But don't attack the greenish ones."

The brown pegasus nodded. "Alright, but what will you do?"

"Me?" Dash asked, and then shot him a cocky smirk. "I'm going to do what I do best," she said, and then closed her wings and dropped into a dive.

        * * * *
The insanity continues, now with 20% more 'Mech Action™.

EDIT: You've got to be ****ing kidding me? There's a character limit? WHAT? So the text takes up a few more kilobytes and that's not allowed, but there are pictures on this site that have a data size in excess of ten megabytes?

Eff you, DA. Eff you TO THE MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!

EDIT 2: Part 2
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tbolt's avatar
I guess it is to take into account for the average netizen's gnatlike attention span! :D