Author's note: Perfect song for the Pelican part at the opening of this chapter. /watch?v=MUxCTUA5VLs
Chapter Eight
Canterlot
February 19th, 2531
Equestrian star system
Skies above Equestria
Commander Michael Preston
Mission: evacuate to Canterlot
"Hang on back there!" the pilot of Zulu-416 yelled as she increased power output to the engines, the Pelican rocketed forward with the Seraph fighters hot on their tails.
"Can't you fly any faster?" Private Jenkins yelled, Grimesy quieted the young Marine.
Commander Preston stepped into the cockpit, sealing the door behind him. "Might I suggest you kill the engines?" Preston said, the pilot glanced back at him.
"Are you crazy, Commander?" she asked, jerking the Pelican to the right to avoid a plasma bolt.
"Kill the engines and arm all weapons!" the Commander ordered, the pilot complied and the Seraphs streaked past the drop-ship, not expecting the sudden move.
"FIRE!" Commander Preston shouted, the twin-chainguns on the chin opened fire; spraying out hundreds of depleted-uranium slugs at the Covenant fighters*. The shields crackled and broke, allowing the pilot to launch several missiles at them.
The Seraphs flashed from existence.
"Smooth sailing from here on out, hopefully" the pilot said, Preston stepped back into the cabin and saw that the Covenant supercarrier had stopped glassing Ponyville. The Commander couldn't be too sure from a distance but it looked like the Covenant had re-occupied the town.
Zulu-416 soared into Canterlot and approached the staging ground where the UNSC's equipment, vehicles, and personnel had been dropped off. Hundreds of ponies from Ponyville were also milling about the royal city.
"Take us to Canterlot tower, I need to speak with the Princess" Preston requested, the Pelican turned in the appropriate direction.
When they arrived all aboard the Pelican hopped out and immediately proceeded to Princess Celestia's chambers, being permitted almost instantly.
"Twilight!" Princess Celestia called out, the lavender Unicorn in question galloped to the Princess.
"I was quite concerned for your safety, Twilight Sparkle" Celestia said, looking down at her prized student.
"It's alright, the humans got almost all of us out of there" Twilight replied, looking back at the Commander and MCT-7.
"Let's skip the pleasantries; the Covenant knows we're here and are probably already planning to descend upon all your cities. They will burn this planet until its surface is but glass**" Preston explained.
"What do you propose we do?" Celestia asked, taking a step toward the Commander.
"The Covenant won't glass the planet until they're done searching for any artifacts of value to their religion, which gives us time to organize a resistance. We just need to hold them off until reinforcements arrive" Preston replied.
"Where should we begin?" Celestia asked, Commander Preston smiled.
February 20th, 2531
Equestrian star system
Royal City of Canterlot
Commander Michael Preston
Mission: Eliminate the Covenant presence in Equestria
Commander Preston looked over the defenses that had been added to Canterlot as he stood at the rear of a Pelican drop-ship hovering over the city. Preston believed that the Covenant would immediately move on to Canterlot to invade it next and he wanted as many defenses set up as possible.
All around the perimeter of Canterlot were M9 Main Anti-Aircraft Tanks, nicknamed 'Wolverines' by the ground forces the M9 had proved itself time and time again against Covenant Banshees and Seraphs.
Supporting the Wolverines were all the SP42 Cobras that had been stored on the Marathon; the Cobra was designed primarily as an anti-vehicle/fortification system, attacking these targets with a pair of LRG Rail-Guns.
Further back in the city the Commander had set up several M808B Main Battle Tanks, which were to be used in conjunction with the Warthogs as a last line of defense for the Royal city.
Commander Preston directed the pilot to return them to Canterlot Tower where Princess Celestia resided, on the way back Preston saw the Covenant supercarrier still hovering above Ponyville. The Commander was almost tempted to organize an assault on the ship but he knew it would be futile; they would never be able to take the shields down.
Unless…yes, that may just work Preston mused, devising a plan in his head. "Everlasting Fall, come in. You still with me?" Preston asked over the radio.
"Yes, Commander. How may I be of assistance?" Fall asked, still benevolent despite his predicament.
"I need you to activate all repair drones to get the ship moving again, I have an idea" the Commander explained.
"Yes, Commander" EF replied, the Pelican arrived at Canterlot Tower and Preston disembarked.
Sitting in the middle of the room were Twilight Sparkle and her friends Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie. MCT-7 was standing near the door, relaxing.
The Commander approached Twilight and her friends, crouching down in front of them.
"Still no word if Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy made it here" Twilight sadly stated, it pained Preston to have to do this but their constant worry would do no good.
"Dash is a tough mare, she'll make it. As for Fluttershy…she's dead" Preston said, Twilight and her friends immediately burst out crying.
The Commander comforted them for a few minutes before heading to the door, he had something he needed to check on.
The area downstairs was reportedly the ball room where a Grand Galloping Gala was held every year; Preston hadn't the slightest idea what a Grand Galloping Gala was but assumed it was some kind of party.
Right now though it was being used as a makeshift refuge center for all the ponies from Ponyville; a tent had been set up as a hospital to treat wounded ponies, staffed by UNSC medical personnel.
All around were ponies and posters asking if anyone had seen a certain mare or stallion, some ponies were even asking about foals and other children. It saddened the Commander to know that not all those parents would ever see their kids again.
Preston entered the hospital; it was quite calm as not many ponies were injured, the majority of the injuries were cuts and bruises.
Near the back, however, medics were working intensely on an orange Pegasus filly with a purple mane and tail, two other fillies were watching them work, concerned for their friend.
"Applebloom, Sweetie Belle. How's Scootaloo?" Commander Preston asked, sitting down an empty bed next to the fillies.
"Doc said they had stopped the internal bleeding but she'd be out for a while. Right now they're working on the broken ribs" Sweetie Belle explained.
"How many ribs were broken?" Preston inquired, craning his neck to look at the Pegasus.
"Awll of 'em" Applebloom solemnly answered, the Commander shook his head and exited the tent.
He returned to Celestia's chambers where he found that a trio of Spartan-IIs had been assigned to guard the Princess.
"Commander" the lead Spartan declared, saluting the naval officer.
"At ease" Preston replied, the Spartan lowered his hand but barely relaxed his stance.
"Senior Chief Petty Officer Maxwell-021" the Spartan said, introducing himself to the Commander.
"I see. You and your team are the personnel guard of Princess Celestia, correct?" Preston inquired.
"Yes, sir" Maxwell answered; the Commander nodded and stepped past the Spartan, ending their conversation.
"How do you feel about being assigned the UNSC's greatest soldiers to be your guard?" Commander Preston asked Celestia.
"My Royal Guards were doing just fine; I don't understand why I need those massive robots" Celestia declared, she was standing out on the balcony and whispering.
"You needn't whisper, unless we were to leave this floor the Spartans would be able to hear everything we said" Preston explained. "Also they're not robots, they're real people underneath those suits and they're the deadliest warriors in the galaxy" the Commander explained.
"Let's prove it; I want to see them spar against my royal guards" Celestia requested, Preston smiled.
"How many guards?" the naval officer inquired.
"Ten, at least."
"Come on, give 'em a real challenge" the Commander exclaimed.
"Fine, fifteen" Princess Celestia replied, Preston nodded.
"That's better. Where should the match be held?" Commander Preston said, staring out at the horizon.
"There's a sparring ring in the guards' barracks" the sun goddess answered.
"Excellent."
February 20th, 2531
Equestrian star system
Covenant CSO-class supercarrier Divine Wind
Ship-master Thar 'Saramee
Mission: exterminate all life in Equestria
Thar 'Saramee stood on the bridge of his ship, looking over Ponyville with a mix of disdain and longing.
This place was so peaceful, friendly. But those vile humans had to come and desecrate it with their filthy presence the Sangheili Ship-master thought.
He was conflicted about this whole situation; on the one hand he tolerated the ponies and firmly believed in his gut that their leader was a descendant of the Forerunners, despite the Hierarchs telling him otherwise. On the other hand the ponies had allied with humanity; the ultimate heresy.
How tiresome the Ship-master mused.
Suddenly his assistant piped up. "Excellency the Hierarchs wish to speak with you" Rav stated, Thar removed himself from the bridge and entered the private holo-chamber.
"Ship-master 'Saramee, I trust you've eliminated all on the planet?" the Prophet of Regret asked, he was the sole Prophet on the screen.
"I apologize but I have not; I am currently searching for Forerunner artifacts" Thar answered, Regret rubbed the side of his head.
"Our patience is not infinite, Ship-master. Kill all on the planet, then search for the artifacts. Or search for artifacts while killing the humans and ponies. It does not matter" Regret explained.
Thar bowed. "As you wish."
The Sangheili stepped from the chamber and returned to his usual spot on the bridge. "We are done here. What is the next nearest settlement?" Thar asked, his navigation officer looked over his display for a moment before turning.
"A small hamlet called Appleloosa, Excellency" the nav officer answered.
Silly name Thar mused. "Plot a course for Appleloosa" the Ship-master ordered.
*This was mentioned in the book Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 40.
**This is a reference to the same line spoken by the Prophet of Truth in a Halo 3 trailer.
I would like to thank Michael Blackburn for beta-reading this chapter.
Legal stuff: Thar 'Saramee, Commander Michael Preston, and all related characters belong to me. Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia, and all related characters belong to Hasbro. My Little Pony belongs to Hasbro. The Prophet of Truth, The Prophet of Mercy, and The Prophet of Regret all belong to 343 Industries. Halo belongs to 343i.
