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Twilight Sparkle wrote:

With their keen ears, the Diamond Dogs inside the storage building heard the approach of the Diarchal forces before a sentry posted at the door saw them. These were professional mercenaries however: instead of panicking, the Diamond Dogs inside kept assembling the device while more armed mercenaries began to pour up from the hole, which was quickly expanded to allow them to bring in heavier equipment. In the moments they had before the arrival of their enemies, they fortified the entrance and surrounded the building, setting up portable bullet proof shields around it. Most of the mercenaries were armed with assault rifles or shotguns, but a few carried light anti-tank weapons. A heavy machine gun was set up behind the barricaded entrance. A few Diamond Dogs climbed to the roof of the building and began assembling a light AA gun.

Since it was clear that their stealthy operations had failed, the leader of the mercenaries called in for heavier backup he had been holding back until now. More seismic monitors went off as something big started to approach from the Northeast, tunneling through the ground...

*

"What was that?" Pearlescent asked when she heard the first sounds of gunfire and explosions. This sounded different from the earlier artillery fire. Shield immediately stepped between the noblemare and the sounds of fighting, ready to defend his charge.

Black didn’t answer right away, listening to his soldiers report the incursion and his mother order more forces to the breach. “Dogs are attacking the outskirts, the savages.” He picked up his pace. “Come on, we’ll get you safe in the church and let my ponies get to work.”

Meanwhile, back at the warehouse, the second squad ducked behind concrete dividers and their disabled APC. A rocket had struck the track and thrown it off though the heavy bolter still worked, spraying down the gap in the doors that the first squad had opened, their bodies strewn about in front of it. Their foe let loose a stream of bullets from their emplacement as the surviving guardsponies fired back with their lasguns, launching lances of light at the mercenaries inside. The intense heat of their shots would vaporize flesh as cells bursted with expanding steam, making terrible wounds but also cauterizing the sites. Already, more Cragadile APCs were en route to join the battle, their engines roaring towards the gunfire as other guardsponies directed civilians away from the air and high in the sky, two Elysian Windigoes rocketed towards the growing skirmish.

Twilight Sparkle wrote:

"The interdimensional rules sure are... weird," Rainbow said. She attempted to scratch her head but was prevented from doing so by her helmet. She let out a small annoyed grunt and continued, "We call our language... your Common... 'Equestrian', but when the dimensional barrier that had separated us from the rest of the world disappeared after the Demon Invasion, we found out that it is spoken in many Human nations as well. However, they call it 'English'. It's supposedly a naturally develpoed language. I think Twi... Her Immortal Ladyship has some theories about how all this is possible, but she has never made them public. Ahem."

The General and her entourage landed on a catwalk and observed the ongoing classes below without saying anything.

“The mind of Alicorns are not for us to understand.” Alula replied, quoting some scholar she half-remembered from her service before directing her attention to what her guests were watching. The foals below paid no heed to their extra observers as they flew through the obstacle course, swerving in between cyclones generated by older cadets. “Basic maneuvering, each year has an iteration of it.” She said as she moved them further along, letting them see foals the usage of their bands, disassembling and reassembling lasrifles, and how to crew heavy bolters. Soon enough they arrived at a class of teens practicing CQC with the claws that Cpt. Lightning had and were about to move on again before the instructor below called out.

“HALT!” The stallion bellowed as the trainees stopped. “Cadet Sabre, front and centre.” He ordered as one of the class stepped out and flew up to the platform. “Yes, Drill Sergeant.” Sabre stood at attention as the instructor circled around her. “Assume first stance and take a swipe at me.” He ordered as Sabre reared up and held her claws out at shoulder level before winding back. The sergeant easily dodged and delivered a hard buck to Sabre’s left knee, shattering it with a crack as she fell to the floor. “As you can see, Sabre’s guard was held too high and her back was too stiff, preventing her from blocking or redirecting my strike. Your foes will not be as merciful as I. Make this mistake out there and you will die.” Medical staff moved in as the drill sergeant continued his lesson, carting the crippled Sabre away.