Halo: Friendship Evolved

By: Rhetorical Gamer

Introduction: The birth of the UESC & the Pony-Covenant War

From the desk of the Director of P.O.N.I

In 2291, Slipspace technology makes colonization a reality and the United Equestrian Space Corp is born. In 30 years, Ponykind establishes the Inner Colonies in the heart of the galaxy and soon in the outer periphery. In the year 2525, Ponykind encounters an advanced alien alliance.

This alliance called itself the Covenant.

The Covenant decrees Ponykind an affront to their gods. And the Pony-Covenant war begins. Within a decade, the Outer Colonies are almost completely annihilated by the power of the Covenant. In the face of direct attacks on the Inner Colonies by Covenant forces, Ponydom only remaining hope depends on a special unit of genetically augmented soldiers. These soldiers were known as the STALLION-IIs.

Chapter 1: The Package

12:01 Hours, June 27, 2551

Aboard the UESC cruiser the Pride of Equestria

"You can't be serious Buck!"

"A Stallion is going to lead us?"

"Um Sergeant what's a Stallion?"

The ODSP squad 101 argued amongst themselves as news arrived of a change of command their latest mission. In the center of attention was Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck commander of squad 101 attempting to clear up the controversy and confusion. He faced an angry duo an angry multi colored pegasus and a orange earth pony.

"First off Rainbow Dash and you too Shrapnel the Stallion is only going to take charge of this mission and as soon as the mission complete he'll be gone."

He turned to a young pink unicorn the newest medic for squad 101. "Well Bubble Gum, Stallions IIs are the strongest soldier's in the entire UESC fleet, and they underwent an ungodly amount of excruciating pain of magic and science to reach the peak of physical and mental perfection."

"PONI has tried to keep them a secret ever since the war began but after what they did at the fall of New Ponyville it's slowly going public. I could see why its boosted troop morale within the UESC. Heck a single Stallion could take out an entire squad of Elites with its bare hooves and if we have one included in our team this means the mission just got escalated."


Squad 101 lined up at the briefing room in front of them stood the captain of the UESC cruiser Pride of Equestria Captain Cherry Blossom and next to her was the Stallion a unicorn. Rainbow Dash and Shrapnel stood by unimpressed meanwhile Bubble Gum stood in awe. The Stallion armor was deep crimson with plenty of plasma burns and scratches of previous skirmishes on the flank and chest of the unicorn armor were the faded numbers 727.

Cherry Blossom moved to the middle of the room "This is Stallion 727 she will be the ranking officer in this mission. I understand that some of you aren't too fond of Stallion's but your emotions will not jeopardize the mission am I making myself clear?"

"Yes ma'am!" The four said in unison.

Cherry Blossom brought up a diagram of the Covenant cruiser and began the briefing. "The Covenant has obtained a high priority package, thankfully the Covenant doesn't know the full value of what they obtained and that's the way we plan to keep it."

"The five of you will drop and breach through the Covenant cruiser Stallion 727 will locate the beacon signal then find and retrieve the package. You will have exactly 15 minutes to find the package and get the hay out by any means possible."

"Um Captain what happens if we run out of time?" Bubble Gum asked quietly.

Cherry Blossom took a deep breath "The Ponies of Naval Intelligence doesn't want vital information of the package compromised including the location of….Equestria. To ensure of it PONI has authorized use of MAC rounds to blow the cruiser, the package and the squad to kingdom come. Is that clear enough for you?" The room went dead silent everypony tensed from the captain words even the Stallion even if it was for a second.

Buck broke the silence "Clear enough ma'am we will find the package and get out before you even load the first MAC round." His words did ring true, Buck has gotten his team through certain death before but it didn't lighten the grim mood in the room.

"I hope so Sergeant for your squad sake, Celestia speed squad 101." Cherry Blossom said as she left the briefing room.

Buck turned and faced his squad "You know the music time to dance."

Bubble Gum stepped inside her pod she set her weapons in their respective slots then took her seat. The alarm began to blare signaling the pod hatch to close one after the other. Bubble Gum watched from the window hatch as each pod was set over the emptiness of space below.

Bubble Gum helmet radio crackled with chatter from the deck of the Pride to Buck relaying the final order with 727. Then the radio was silent it was time finally a voice broke the silence "Squad 101, prepare to drop into hell in 3…..2…1"

*CLICK*


The pods shook violently as it roared into the atmosphere the pitch black of space was quickly replaced with bright blue skies, clouds and the Covenant cruiser. The five pods cutes popped out as the made landfall into the tail end of Covenant cruiser. Rainbow Dash pod impacted then hatch popped as she jumped out she saw Bubble Gum and Buck pinned in a corner.

Rainbow flew for cover she looked over to see several Grunts and two Brutes raining hot death to her squad mates. She raised her Battle Rifle and fired several shots killing three Grunts and the attention of one Brute. The Brute charged for the peagusus she pulled her side arm and unloaded the entire clip.

Rainbow pistol clicked empty she fell back she saw the beast unaffected enraged even more it raised its arms ready to crush her skull open. Rainbow froze, suddenly the Brute rampage stopped it slumped and collapsed she noticed a knife lodged in its back. She looked up and saw 727 as she retrieved her knife the Stallion offered a hoof to Rainbow.

"I don't need you help" Rainbow Dash said as she slapped the unicorn hoof out of the way. 727 put her hoof down and joined with the rest of the squad. As Rainbow reloaded her sidearm Shrapnel stood beside her, he had a smug look on his face.

"You could at least tell her Thank You for her saving your sorry flank."

"Shut up."

As squad 101 walked deeper into the carrier, 727 Tacpad on her forehoof started beeping signaling the package was close. They followed 727 as the beacon signal grew stronger with each step they took. They reached the end of the hallway to a large door a high tone sounded as the door opened. As they were about to walk inside 727 sensed something she looked behind her and saw the outline of three huge figures. They instantly appeared three Elites armed with Energy Swords they charged to the unsuspecting ponies.

727 yelled "We've been engaged!"

Buck looked back dogged the first Elite swipe and bucked the Elite in the face. "727 go get the package we'll hold them off." 727 nodded and ran inside and sealed the door behind her.

Buck stood in front of his squad he drew his knife and faced the Elites ready to fight to the death. "Alright fillies lets derail the Great Journey."

727 drew her Assault Rifle she cautiously walked to the center of the room. She looked at the package a Cryostasis pod encased with a thin layer of ice. The Stallion scrapped off the layer of ice on the nameplate. The nameplate read Dr. Twilight Sparkle, 727 accessed the data pad on the pod. The pod hissed as the ice melted immediately as the hatch slowly raised up. Inside was the purple unicorn the color returned to her face as she slowly opened her eyes to her savior.

727 looked at the unicorn "Dr. Sparkle."

"Windfall, it's you…?"

727 slowly brought Twilight out of her pod. "Yes Doctor I'm here to get you back. Sleep well?"

"No thanks to them, yes"

"I'm glad you're still in one piece."

The purple unicorn smiled. "Maybe your luck has rubbed off on me."

She looked behind her at the door and thought of her fellow Marine's buying her time. "We make my own luck, Doctor."

"Thank you Windfall, it's not a proper rescue until we get out of here right?"

Windfall nodded "Agreed. We need to move fast Squad 101 is still outside."

"Let's not keep them waiting."